The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-16
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
]. W. POWELL, DIRECTOR-THE
PLANS FOX THE YEAR.
w ork to be Carried on In the Lower
Mississippi Region, aud Along
the Atlantic Slope.

WASHINGTON, July l5.-Msj. J. w.
Powell, Director OF the Geological
Survey, has submitted to the Secretary
o the Interior for his approval, a
plan Of operations for the geological
survey for the present fiscal year. He
proposes to continue the survey for
the topographic map Of the United
States now In progress. In an inter
view Msj, Powell, said: '"The geologi-
cal work will be carried on as hereto
fore In various parts Of the country
in New England, along the Atlantic
coast, throughout the Appalachian
mountain system; in the lower Mis-
issippi region, along the southern
md western shores Of Lake Superior,
in the rich mountain region Of Cali
fornia, In what promises to be an i'm
portant coal, petroleum and natural
gas field In the near future in Mon.
tans, In the California gold belt and
in hal; q dozen other regions Of inter-
est from the scientific and the
economic standpoint.
"A promising line Of investigation
along the Atlantic slope relates to the
green sand msrls OF Virginia and the
Csrolinas. 1t Is not realized by the
citizens OF these Sta es that there lie
within their low eastward hills stores
OF untold wealth which will eventually
revolutionizs the agricultural methods
pursued by these States in the shape
Of Just such green sands and marls as
have within the past generation trans
formed the sand wastes Of New jersey
into vegt table gardens. During the
coming year Mr.. Gilbert will 20 on
with his investig atoms into the siruc'
ture Of the Appalachian mountains
and Of the coal beds and the sand
stone deposits yielding petroleum and
natural gas along their western TANKS.
The area In Elliott county. Ky, which
Is now beirg prospected for diamonds
falls within this division, but officers
oil the survey have given but faint en-
enlargement to the prospectors-they
have shown that the great mineral 70.
sources OF the Cumberland plateau
take the form OF coal, iron, oil and
gas, ard possess q permanent value
exceeding that OF the silver oil Nevada,
the gold Of California or toe diamonds
OF the Cape.
Prof. Irving continues his work upon
the iron.besring and copper.bearing
rocks OF the Lake Superior region, and
his profound Investigations will doubt.
Lees serve to hold In check, or guide,
as the case may be, the min ng excite
ment now rifle Ia that region. In the
lower Mississippi region investigations
OF the iron ore, salt and sulphur de-
posts, the green sand marie, etc, by
Mr.. johnson, are yet In progress, and
the natural resources are rapidly be.
coming known and available largely
through the labor that has been be-
slowed upon them by scientific men.
The work In Montana has hitherto
been carried on by the pioneer en-.
, plorer and geologist, DR.. F.V. Hayden
but failing health has compelled the
vetersn TO retire from active duties
and be Is succeeded by HE former as
distant, DIR. Peale. DIR. Peale 10 already
10 the field. The newly opened routes
Of transportation through Montana al
the ZANE time create q demand for the
varied mineral resources Of this por
ton OF the Rocky Mountain region
and afford the means OF util z NJ them
and 90 active operations "a the shor
seasons permit are accordingly TO
INJURED.
II In portion OF the Rocky Mountain
region lying within Colorado i'm
portant mining enterprises are con
slant, guided and controlled by the In
vestigAtions OF scieotifc men, and the
division Of the Geological Survey A.
signed 10 this region 10 among the
most important Of the institution
Duriug last summer the Denver Goa
field was exhGustiyely investigated
) and q report setting forth the extern
and value OF the coal will be prepare
during the prefent summer. NaiuTe'l
great Laboratory the geyser region o
ths Yellow6tobe Park-has already
afforded much insight into the pro
ceee,s OF mineral formation, and the
studies already commenced there b,
! Mr. Hague and his corps OF assistants
will be continued during the prelen
season. Mr. Bfeoktr has finished hi
investigation Of the quicksilver depos
its OF the Pacific slope, and Ia orde
10 give his report thereon a plac
among the classics OF science he ha
not only made thorough local study
but has taken mp the whole subiec, 0
the quicksilver deposits, visiting thos
OF greatest Importance, including th'
mines at New AlmAden, Spain. HIS I'd
port upon this subject 10 about 10 10 /
press, but n eantime bis assistants hay
taken up the investigation Of the SUI
FERGUS deposits OF the "gold belt,
skirtirg the western base OF the siel
ras In California. Prof. Chamberlain
stables Of the glacial deposits Of III
country have been nearly completes
and hnal reports thereon will be pre-
Il pared during the present year. tn
ultimate object OF Prof Chamberlain
work Ia the Classification Of the soil
oil the northern United States, for ~
rlcultural purposes. The iruition {
this branch Of activity In the survey
at hand.
During the past six months Gap
Dut,on has been engaged In discussin
data relating 10 the Charleston earth
quake and will coon send 10 press
monograph on the subject, la whic
will be discused not only the sIguit
canoe Of the earthquake In the liet
OF seismology, but the science itse
will be zee instructed In the lieh
afforded by this remarkable selsmi
disturbance. Meantime bis work upo
the great volcanic feds Of Norther
California and Oregon 10 carried b
Mr.. Delles.